Risk perception in participatory planning for water reuse

This paper focuses on how characterising and understanding the dissonance between stakeholder perceptions of risk could be of value when carrying out participatory planning of water reuse projects. Knowledge of the variation in stakeholders' concerns regarding risk from the onset of a participatory process, could breed insight and help guide the knowledge requirements of the stakeholder groups involved. The research input for this paper was generated from a questionnaire survey investigating stakeholders' views regarding wider participation in water resources management with particular regard to the following points: (1) What they considered to be the most important risks of a wastewater reuse project or scheme; (2) Individual expectations with regard to the coincidence level of risk perception between the stakeholder groups. Responses from four stakeholder groups (regulators, researchers, managers and domestic customers) are presented. Perspectives on the risks and uncertainties inherent in a project will probably vary from one stakeholder to another. The research findings suggest that levels of expected agreement regarding risk vary between different stakeholder groups. There is also a marked variability in expectations by risk type. Identification and characterisation of individual stakeholders' expectations and knowledge requirements with regard to risk could therefore help to form a sound basis for equitable deliberation, understanding and decision making within a social learning environment.